It's now on the first page:http://www.mixedmartialarts.com/news/446833/White-puts-judge-Howard-Hughes-out-to-pasture-at-UFN-48/

At UFC Fight Night 48, Milana Dudieva won a controversial decision over Elizabeth Phillips, and Royston Wee won a controversial decision over Yao Zhikui. Under ordinary circumstances, the event is entirely regulated by a State, provincial, or tribal regulating body. In Macau however, the UFC self regulates, and this time UFC president Dana White had the means to respond - he had word sent to judge Howard Hughes that it was time to enjoy the fights, from the stands.

“He was involved in the first fight and the second fight,” said White to John Morgan for MMAFighting. “I told the guys to go let him grab some beer and some popcorn and go sit down and start watching some fights, not judging them."

“I know a lot of people, the media included and the fans I saw on Twitter, felt that Phillips won the fight, but I thought Milana won the fight, so I disagree. But at the end of the day, who gives a s–- what I think. It’s the judges. They pick the winner, and that’s all that matters.”

“It wasn’t great tonight (of officiating). It wasn’t, and it drives me crazy. So, I can sit there and ridicule Nevada, California and all these other places we go, but nobody to point the finger at tonight except for us.”

MMAjunkie later confirmed with UFC officials that Hughes was, indeed, the judge told to pack it up early.

Hughes scored the Wee fight 29-28 in the Filipino fighter’s favor, the same way MMAjunkie scored the bout. However, White said he disagreed with that decision and actually elected to pay Zhikui his win bonus.

Meanwhile, Hughes actually scored the Dudieva bout in the Russian fighter’s favor, a result with which White agreed.

“I know a lot of people, the media included and the fans I saw on Twitter, felt that Phillips won the fight, but I thought Milana won the fight, so I disagree,” White said. “But at the end of the day, who gives a s–t what I think. It’s the judges. They pick the winner, and that’s all that matters.”

Despite siding with Hughes on that result, the back-to-back split decisions were enough for White to make a decision, which he later admitted was made while he was “having a pretty bad meltdown.”

Hughes’ name was read by in-cage announcer Andy Friedlander as one of three judges taking part in the scoring of the main event, but MMAjunkie confirmed with UFC officials that Gareth Harriman served in his place instead. Production staff was not informed of the switch, leading to the confusion.

I assumed Hughes was removed b/c he scored the fight 30-27 for Dudieva, but apparently he scored it 29-28. So unless Dana had access to actual round by round scoring of Hughes, this really doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

To steal from John Olliver--"interesting" is a fact you'd find on the bottom of a snapple can, such as "When thirsty, a camel can drink 25 gallons of water in less than three minutes."

This is downright scandalous.

A promotion also acting as the "sanctioning" body --where such sanctioning body is supposed to be a regulatory oversight set in place to ensure the safety of athletes AND the integrity of matches. . . REPLACES a judge midstream?

This is a mockery of sport and complete conflict of interest of the highest order, and flat out dangerous.

To steal from John Olliver--"interesting" is a fact you'd find on the bottom of a snapple can, such as "When thirsty, a camel can drink 25 gallons of water in less than three minutes."

This is downright scandalous.

A promotion also acting as the "sanctioning" body --where such sanctioning body is supposed to be a regulatory oversight set in place to ensure the safety of athletes AND the integrity of matches. . . REPLACES a judge midstream?

This is a mockery of sport and complete conflict of interest of the highest order, and flat out dangerous.

To steal from John Olliver--"interesting" is a fact you'd find on the bottom of a snapple can, such as "When thirsty, a camel can drink 25 gallons of water in less than three minutes."

This is downright scandalous.

A promotion also acting as the "sanctioning" body --where such sanctioning body is supposed to be a regulatory oversight set in place to ensure the safety of athletes AND the integrity of matches. . . REPLACES a judge midstream?

This is a mockery of sport and complete conflict of interest of the highest order, and flat out dangerous.

"Trust us. . . "

No thank you.

QFT

No, Mace is correct.

This couldn't have anything to do with the fact that the Chinese fighter lost on his home turf in their big coming out party in China after the reality show.

That decision cost Dana a lot of money with his Chinese partners and he had a meltdown and removed a judge.

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